Obituaries September 28, 2016

Robert C. Allard, 80, of Clearwater, Florida, died on September 9, 2016.

He was born on April 25, 1936, in Lyndonville, and was the third child born to Beatrice (Brooks/Rousseau) Allard and Rene R. Allard. After graduating from Sacred Heart schools in Newport, he enlisted in the Air Force and served for four years.

He leaves his wife, Audrey Wells Allard; his children: Robin Evans and her husband, Phil, of Largo, Florida, and Aaron Allard of Clearwater; his grandchildren Lydia and Timothy Evans of Largo. He is survived by his brothers: Armand and his wife, Yvette, of Pinellas Park, Florida, Donald and his wife, Pauline, of Stanstead, Quebec, and Michael and his wife, Monique, of Newport Center; by his sister Therese Tanguay of Newport; his sister-in-law and brother-in-law Murlene and Robert Skinner of Derby; and by many nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his brother Reginald in 2013, and his brother Albert in childhood.

Richard Tokunboh Paul Dabiri

Richard Tokunboh Paul Dabiri, 63, died at his home in Westmore in August of 2016.

Mr. Dabiri was born on December 26, 1952, in Brooklyn, New York, to Alhaji Chief Mustapha Dabiri and Ivy Marshall Dabiri. He spent a significant part of his formative years in both Trinidad, the West Indies, and Nigeria, West Africa. True to his nature, he easily connected with both the Trinidadian and Nigerian cultures, enjoyed the love and attention of immediate and extended relatives, and gained lifelong friends. They have been a major part of his life since then.

After attending St. Gregory’s School in Lagos, Mr. Dabiri returned to the United States where he completed high school. He went on to earn an undergraduate degree in Urban Sociology at Hofstra University; a master of science degree in city, regional and transportation planning from Pratt Institute; and additional training in transportation engineering, civil engineering, and airport planning and design.

Mr. Dabiri had a fulfilling career providing consulting, strategic planning, and project management services in both the private and public sectors. He held planning positions for several cities and towns across the country, including Baltimore, Maryland, the Northeast Kingdom, Westmore, Compton, California, and Los Angeles to name a few, and he consulted for local governments in Iraq, Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates), Israel, the Federal Republic of Tanzania, and Nigeria. Additionally, he held teaching positions at the Community College of Vermont and the School for International Training based in Washington, D.C.

Richie, as he was affectionately called by family and close friends, had a fascination with antique cars. He was an avid lover of nature and enjoyed spending time outdoors — hiking, sailing, fishing, and taking road trips, in addition to spending quality time with loved ones. Most of his time was spent in Vermont, Massachusetts, and Florida.

Paul Anthony Majchrzak, 68, formerly of Bay City, Michigan, born April 30, 1948, died on September 10 at his home in Westmore with his loving family by his side.

After being diagnosed with gastric cancer in August, he went too soon. This generous man was predeceased by his parents, Albin and Angeline (Smarszcz) Majchrzak.

Mr. Majchrzak loved his family and is survived by his wife, Ellie (Branigan) Majchrzak, and sons: Jeremy Majchrzak and his wife, Nicola, and Benjamin Matchstick and his wife, Megan Hammond. He was a very special dziadzia (grandfather) to Julia, Madeline, and Logan Majchrzak, and Django Matchstick. He will be greatly missed by them.

He is also survived by his cherished sisters: Judy Russell, of Bay City, Dorothy Rewers and her husband, Pete, of Indianapolis, Indiana, Barbara Jakubczak, of Linwood, Michigan; and sister-in-law Judy Majchrzak of Bay City.

He was predeceased by his brother, Jerome “Rocky” Majchrzak; and brothers-in-law: Gene Jakubczak, Bill Russell, and Michael Branigan; and also very special friends Larry Reinsch and Al Wilinski.

Mr. Majchrzak was industrious and graduated from General Motors Institute (now Kettering University) in Flint, Michigan. He was a great co-worker who retired from General Motors Powertrain and Saginaw Steering Gear, as a senior industrial engineer.

He will also be missed by his in-laws: Marge Culloty, of Beaumont, Texas, Kathy Branigan, Bill and Carol Branigan, and Ann Boehmer, of Bay City, and Betty Branigan, of Shepherd, Michigan, and Jim and Janice Branigan, of Deltona, Florida.

He was a great role model to his many nieces and nephews. Mr. Majchrzak will always be remembered by his many friends and neighbors in Bay City and Vermont.

Donations may be made to CureSMA (spinal muscular atrophy), 925 Busse Road, Elk Grove Village, Illinois 60007, in support of Mr. Majchrzak’s very special neighbors in Westmore, Jim and Kristen Farrell and their precious children, Braeden and Kernan, as Mr. Majchrzak was a special dziadzia to them.

Mr. Majchrzak had a warm, affectionate personality, and will be remembered with a smile by all who knew him. He would talk to everyone, including strangers, and be able to have a great conversation with them. His quick wit was a gift and always got a smile and a laugh. He was a former athlete who enjoyed sports and never missed his sons’ games. He was a preservationist who restored several historical homes and his cabin on the lake. He loved his adopted state of Vermont. He was proud of his place on Willoughby Lake, and enjoyed viewing the Mount Pisgah and Mount Hor Gap, the amazing sunsets, the change of seasons, and fishing and boating rides.

Mr. Majchrzak was a caring, nice man. If everybody were like him, this world would be a much better place.

Marvin H. Menzel

Marvin H. Menzel, 83, of Island Pond, died on September 23, 2016, at his home.

He was born on April 23, 1933 in Guilford, Connecticut, to Henry and Carolyn (Sfine) Menzel.

Mr. Menzel was a veteran of the Korean War. Most of his life he was a painter for the International Brotherhood of Painters.

On September 18, 2004, he married Lucy Tardif who survives him.

He was a member of American Legion Post #80 and the Veterans of Foreign Wars, both of Island Pond.

Mr. Menzel loved to snowmobile and he groomed the trails for VAST for many years. He was an avid hunter and fisherman. He loved to work on machinery and help anyone in need.

He is survived by his wife, Lucy Menzel of Island Pond, by his children: Sarah Menzel and her wife, Ketra Fulks, of Ivoryton, Connecticut, and Christina Menzel of Deep River, Connecticut; by his grandchild R.J. Holloway of Deep River; nieces: Robin Menzel and Renee Pardo; his nephew Arthur Menzel; and great-nephew Donnie Menzel. He is also survived by his sister and brother: Gertrude Sadlowski of Charleston, Rhode Island, and Arthur Menzel of Washington, Vermont.

A memorial service will be held at the American Legion Post #80, at 60 Railroad Street in Island Pond on Saturday, October 1, at 11 a.m.

Should friends desire, contributions in his memory may be made to the American Legion Post #80, 60 Railroad Street, Island Pond, Vermont 05846.

Online condolences can be made at curtis-britch.com.

Ivy Yvonne Dabiri Sinclair

Ivy Yvonne Dabiri Sinclair, 90, died at her home in Westmore in August of 2016.

Ms. Sinclair was born on April 17, 1926, in Tunapuna, Trinidad, the West Indies. She was the youngest of four children born to Lavinia Joseph Marshall and James Marshall, a merchant marine. Her siblings Hubert, Pearl, and Rodger, predeceased her.

In 1934, her family immigrated to the United States and settled in Brooklyn, New York. She attended Girls Commercial High School and upon graduating obtained a position with the New York Telephone Company.

She met and married Mustapha Dabiri, a Nigerian engineering student. There were three children born of their union: Michael (deceased), Gloria, and Richard (deceased).

After the couple separated, Ms. Sinclair enrolled in evening classes at Hunter College, earned a bachelor of arts degree in education, and in the 1960s, taught secretarial science at Bay Ridge High School in Brooklyn. She thereafter obtained a master’s degree in education from Hunter College and joined the faculty of New York City Technical College as an associate professor in the commercial studies department. As faculty adviser to the department’s alumni association Ms. Sinclair was instrumental in developing career enhancement training and employment opportunities for the department’s graduates. She was loved and admired by her students who affectionately called her “Professor D”. Ms. Sinclair was overjoyed when several of her former students attended her ninetieth birthday celebration in April.

In 1987, she married George Sinclair, a jazz musician and technician at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital. The couple soon retired and relocated to Cape Cod, Massachusetts, where Ms. Sinclair devoted her time to producing television shows for a local television station, C3TV (Cape Cod Community Television), organizing and promoting jazz concerts, and accompanying Mr. Sinclair to his performances.

Following her husband’s death, and after suffering a stroke, Ms. Sinclair moved to Vermont to live with her son Richard. She enjoyed walking along Lake Willoughby and spending time with her family and friends.

Marie Anne C. (Guertin) Turcotte, 73, died on September 8, 2016, at her home in Newport, surrounded by her family and friends.

She was born on February 23, 1943, in Attleboro, Massachusetts to Edward and Bernadette (Collard) Guertin.

She attended Sacred Heart Elementary School in North Attleboro and transferred to Jesus Mary Academy in Fall River, Massachusetts, where she graduated in 1960. Several months after graduating from high school in Fall River, she entered the Order of the Religious of Jesus and Mary in Hyattsville, Maryland, taking her vows as Mother St. Julia Marie. After a few years in the order, she decided to leave as she believed God had a better plan for her.

On August 16, 1969, she married Normand P. Turcotte at Sacred Heart Church in North Attleboro. They lived in the Attleboro area for four-and-one-half years before moving to Newport in 1974.

Mrs. Turcotte was a devout Catholic and communicant of St. Mary’s Star of the Sea Catholic Church in Newport. She was a member of the Daughters of Isabella, Circle #313 for more than 30 years.

Mrs. Turcotte had numerous jobs throughout the years, the most recent were as a clerk and bookkeeper at Orleans Office Products and as an administrative assistant at Gene Besaw and Associates, where she retired in 2008.

She loved to spend time with her family and she encouraged and supported her daughters and grandchildren in any activities they became involved in. Admittedly, she was not a sports fan but you could always expect to see her on the sidelines cheering them on.

Mrs. Turcotte was a committee member of the Boy Scouts Troop #804 in Newport, and later Troup #821 in Westfield. She encouraged and supported her grandson Dominick Turcotte from the tiger level of the Cub Scouts all the way to his presentation of the Eagle Scout Award in 2014.

She was an accomplished seamstress having sewn her own wedding gown and those of her bridal party. She also sewed many outfits for her daughters over the years including their prom dresses.

Mrs. Turcotte also had artistic and creative talents as evidenced by her artwork in family homes as well as other creations. In recent years she enjoyed coloring in her adult coloring books, word search puzzles, and she was an avid reader. She also enjoyed watching cooking programs. Her culinary talents were greatly appreciated by family and friends.

Mrs. Turcotte is survived by her loving husband, Normand. They were married for 47 years. She leaves behind two daughters: Lynne Leitch and her husband, Jamie, of Holland, and Lisa Turcotte-Thomas and her partner, Ken Larocque, of Barton. She also leaves four grandchildren whom she loved dearly: Dominick Turcotte and his partner, Samantha Mason, Daniel Thomas, Katie Leitch, and William Larocque. She was predeceased by her infant son, Normand P. Turcotte Jr. in 1976; and by her brother Paul A. Guertin of Salt Lake City, Utah.

She leaves her sister Jeanne Goulet and her husband, Michael, of Falmouth, Massachusetts; her brother Maurice Guertin and his wife, Dorothy, of Herndon, Virginia; her aunt Terry Guertin of Stuart, Florida; and many nieces nephews, and cousins.

Funeral services will be held at St. Mary’s Star of the Sea Catholic Church in Newport on Saturday, October 1, at 11 a.m. There will be a celebration of life at St. Mary’s from 9 to 10:30 a.m. in the church, followed by meditation hymns preceding the Mass. Interment will follow the funeral at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Newport. Friends and family of Mrs. Turcotte may gather for a light luncheon following the service at the Gateway Center in Newport.

Donations in her memory may be made to the St. Mary’s Star of the Sea renovation fund or the Gibbons Council, Knights of Columbus #2285 Steubenville Fund, care of Maurice Brasseur.

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